Missmatched keys: Why is my keyboard typing wrong¡ì

[johannsabbach]

Missmatched keys: Why is my keyboard typing wrong?
If I type this with my keyboard without recorrecting the keys I get:
?iss,qtched keysM Zhy is ,y keyboqrd typing zrong¡ì

As you may see these letters and a few more are switched;
q=a and viceversa
z=w and viceversa
m=,
;=m
,=;
/=!
!=1 as all numbers work with shift+ only
1=&
2=¨¦
and so on...

My updated antivirus program finds no virus and searching the internet has been in vain thus far: this virus started with Outlook Express a week or tzo ago; then dissqapeared; then ca,e back: Any suggestions¡ì

Thanks for any ideas!
Johann

-johann
Always think twice...fix once.
Don't think...fix many. (bring asprin)
Hope I can be some help to you someday!

 

[linney]

Is StickyKeys on?

StickyKeys is designed for people who have difficulty holding down two or more keys simultaneously. When a shortcut requires a key combination, such as CTRL+P, StickyKeys will enable you to press a modifier key (CTRL, ALT, or SHIFT), or the Windows logo key (), and have it remain active until another key is pressed.

Open Accessibility Options.
On the Keyboard tab, under StickyKeys, select the Use StickyKeys check box.
To turn off StickyKeys, clear the Use StickyKeys check box.

Or a faulty keyboard.

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/pc/hardware/keyboard/diagnose.htm

Check also all settings under Regional And Language Options in the Control Panel.

Have a look around this and see if you can find anything useful.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1161777,00.asp

Might be a corrupted Keyboard driver. Is there an updated driver or can you remove and re-install the current driver?

Lastly stay off the booze.

 

[bcastner]

Try a different keyboard.

The keys are grouped closely enough to suggest a hardware issue or possibly a liquid spill into the keyboard is responsible.

 

[johannsabbach]

Thanks for your ideas!

I hope you're ready for a laugh. I decided before I got your replies that I should do a System Restore. Right before I made the final click, I noticed that my language bar looked different. Funny, I didn't notice that this last week while I've been having problems.

So I checked this out, as I thought I had before, and found that an experiment of mine had come back to haunt me: I simply installed French language input ability on my computer (along with Chinese, the language I'm studying now) in order to play with it someday. I didn't turn it on, as far as I remember--just installed it for availability.

Well, a day after forgetting about this Windows installation the problem 'started' on its own. I didn't realize this keyboard layout was different with these specific keys in French.

Lesson: I should play with things when I have time to investigate what I'm playing with, not just 'see what happens.'

Have a fun day.

-johann
Always think twice...fix once.
Don't think...fix many. (bring asprin)
Hope I can be some help to you someday!